Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-27

The ruInOred approach OF beef famine may be
taken 10 be reasonable probability Similar re-
yortS have been put out from time to time by
r&nchmen and packers TO affect the price OF beef,
which nowadays, by enterprising processes OF dis
tr1oution, has come to be a basis OF speculation
In somewhat the same way that wheat and oil
are This time there Is good reason TO believe the
ranchmen- The conditions of cattle fanching
have changed very greatly In the last few years.
In Kansas and Colorado the arid districts that
We're once classified as u part OF the Great AmeTi-
can Desert are receiving an Increasing rainfall
every year, and what was formerly tine cattle
grazing land is now under the plow. The large
ranges along the Platte and Arkansas rivers have
been trampled out, for steers hoofs consume as
much grass rs his mouth. In Texas, drought each
year makes the cattle business less profitable.
Last season, II Is estimated, 10000 head OF cattle
were driven and shipped OF the state to escape
1eath from thirst. In Montana the unforeseen
severity OF last winter wrought untold havoc,
while in Idaho, Colorado, and Dakota 1t
was only less terrible. The traveller along
the Kansas or Union Pacific can realize
something OF the losses from winter storms when
he sees the huge piles OF bones heaped in fence
corners, where herds have been driven before q
blizzard 10 crush and crowd upon each other until
Heath from suOcati0n is as great as from the cold
With all these causes working against the range
cattle business IL Is no wonder that large
small lots 10 the packers, but ia large punches to
whoever is willing TO take the risks of the invest
meut. The profitable production of beef is rap
idly and surely going 10 two sections, widely sep
arated. The fine mountain and plateau feeding
grounds OF Colorado and Utah afford a permanent
cattle range, where the pillow, the storm. or the
drought can do no harm. In winter deep SHOWS
lie upon the higher attitudes. feeding the soil in
suring rank growth OF grass, and thousands of
unfailinE; springs OF pure water. In the healthful
mountain air cattle are free from disease and take
On he-n rapidly. Another and more profitable
cattle producing section Is the farming regions of
the East. The day will soon be here when cattle
raising on the plains Will, like the buffalo, be
thing Of the past. The farmer Of the Mississippi
Valley and on the Atlantic seaboard must be re-
lied on Tor beef With constantly improving meth
odS OF stOck-farmlns there will be good profit In it,
for the producer and the consumer will get better
meat at i less price than when the control Of the
beef market OF the whole country is in the hands
OF few men, and liable 10 speculative Influences.
The disposition of the average jaior to temper
justice with mercy is not quite so abnormally de-
reloped as in the case OF the warden OF an Indiana
penitent1ary, who allowed a convict, sentenced to
three years imprisonment for roboing his county
Of $4,000 TO drive about town in his buggy 90
into barroons, smoke cigars with his friends, and
practically enjoy life as much as If he We're free
and honorable citizen. Yet If the truth were got
ut no doubt it would be seen that this easy-going
mercy is much more common than Is thought.
IL seems wonder often that the punishment of
crime Is as satisfactory as 1t Is In the United
states The prison system or the country is en-
irely IN the hands OF politicians and the class OF
men who are ambitious 10 be sherins and 1ailors
Is not one TO be imbued with very clear or lofty
notions OF the majesty OF law the sanctiy Of its
penalties Nevertheless, the sterling, roughshod
character that aDDIteS itself Tn tho hTSinesS of
getting elected 10 shrieyaltieS and appointed to
wardenships, IN the main, does Its duty relig-
eouSly- such exceptions Is the Indiana case, and
That few days ago IN Senator Riddlebergers
home. should be met with square and decided re-
bUSe, as they are likely 10 be-